Compound celluloid product and method of making same



`C. SCHUSTER.

CDMPOUND CELLULOID PRODUCT AND METHOD 0F MAKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 14.1922.

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C. SCHUSTER.

COMPOUND CELLULOID PRODUCT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1.4,1922. l

Patented Dat 3l, 1922.,

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CHARLES SCHUSTER, 0F PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNR T0 NIKON NITRATJION WORKS, OIF NIXON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION G15' NEW JERSEY.

CGMPOUNID CELLULIID PRODUCT .AND METHOD 0F MAKING 4SAIEIE.

Application led January 14, 1922.

Be it knovvn thatv lt, CHARLES SCHUSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Perth Amboy` in the countyv of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compound Celluloid Products and Methods of Making Same; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full. clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

rlhe present'invention relates to a cornbined Celluloid product, and methoduof making the same.

An objectof this invention is to provide a structural leaf or sheet which simulates mother of pearl, silver pearl, abalone. and other variegated and stratified shell structures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structural leaf or sheet of this character which is composed of Celluloid or like transparent material, pigments and foil, such as tin foil. gold foil and colored foil; and to provide a novel method of treating and assembling these materials to produce a product Which is not brittle. which is commercially practical, Which may be easily handled, and which is adapted to various ornamental uses, such ,as in making special designs and effects in combination with celluloid.

Heretofore, no mea-ns or method has beer. known to successfully make sheets of material like Celluloid stick together when pieces of even a thin metal material are placed between the sheets. and the present method embodies certain novel steps and treatment of the materials which overcome this disadvantage.

More specifically` the invention provides a composite sheet of celluloid and foil which i is presented to the surface of the sheet in substantially edgewise relationito obtain an edge grain effect ofthe .com osite article, and to unite and secure togetllier Such materials beneath a continuous uninterrupted smooth surface .layer of transparent material. l

With the foregoing and other objects in View. the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will'be more particularly pointed out inthe claims appended hereto. i

Serial No. 529,196.

lin the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig 1 is a plan view of a sheet of Celluloid with color pigment pressed into its surface.

Fig. Q is a sectional view of a jacketed press, illustrating the manner of laying up a plurality of the sheets in the press form a block.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the block produced, showing, on anenlarged scale, the sheeting of the block to produce edge grain sheets. i

Fig. at is a side elevation of a stack of the edge grain sheets having superposed sheets of tinfoil therebetween.

Fig. 5 is an end vievv of the stack. illus` trating the cutting of the same into sections for molding. v

F ig. t5 is a sectional view of a press, showing the sections of the stack arranged therein.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a block molded from said superposed sheets` and showing the same sheeted for final treatment.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged section through one of the final sheets with a'coating of cement and a transparent surface sheet applied thereto.

lgig. .9 is a similar view after compression, an

Fig. 10 is a face view of a finished sheet.

Referring to the drawings` wherein is dis closed not only the article. but also certain apparatus used in the production of the article, and various composite stacks of superposed sheets formed in the method` 15 designated a sheet of transparent material, such as celluloid, which may be formed in any well known commercial manner, and colors or pigment 16 are ground into the Celluloid While the same is soft on the rolls and the excess solvent is Worked off so that the sheetl 15 will not be too soft for subsequent molding. 'The pigment 11 may be applied by brush coating, and is adapted to impart a variegated coloring effect to the surface of lill@ same having a water jacket 18 in the walls thereof, and provided with a plunger 19 which may be operated in any suitable manner. rll`he stack of sheets 15 is adapted to be placed under considerable pressure while alternate changes of hot and cold water, or other suitable fluid, is circulated through the jacket 18 for the purpose of working the mass by expansion and contraction into a homogeneous block.

'lhe pressed and molded block is shown at 20 'in Fig. 3, and the block* is then sub'- mitted to the operation of a sheeter or cutter which is adapted to sheet a block into a plurality of sheets 21 of approximately ten' one-'thousandth of an inch in thickness.

'As shown in F ig. 4, the sheets 21 are then laid up in superposed or stack form, but have interposed between them sheets or layers of foil 22 which is made relatively thin, and which approximates three one-thousandths of an inch in thickness. lt may here be stated that the use of a relatively thin foil of approximately the above stated thickness is one of the essential features or characteristics of the invention, because it is found that should a double thickness of foil be accidentally interposed between the celluloid layers, the entire heat is ruined, and to offset this accident, the thin sheets of foilat the time of their manufacture are separated with linterposed layers of tissue -paperto prevent such mistakes.

rlhe stack of superposed and alternately arranged sheets of Celluloid 21 and foil 22 is placed under a large paper cutter and is lengthwise cut vertically, or at right angles to the planes of the sheets in the manner indicated in Fig. 5, to divide the stack of sheets into separate narrow stacks 23, 24 and 25 of different widths which may be approximately;. the stack 23, one inch in width, the stack 24 inches two inches in width, and the stack 25 three inches in width. Of course, these widths are only approximate as the number of vertical cuts and the widths will depend largely upon the'dimensions of the stack and the dimensions of the subse` quently used mold or press.

These narrow stacks, 23, 24 'and 25 divided up into suitable heights or thickness- .es and placed in a second press or mold 26 which is provided with a serrated bottom wall 27, the serrations of which project inwardly and form ridges or rests upon which tlilhel-.dlower edges of the stack portions are The portions of the narrow stacks 23, 24 and 25, are placed diagonally in the press 26, or are inclined in overlapping relation from end to end of the press, as shown in fFig. 6. The press 26 is also provided with a water` jacket 28 by means of which the press may be subjected to relatively hot and cold temperatures for working the mass during operation. And the plunger 29 of the press 26 is ,forced into the press or mold,l the tilted stacks of sheets are forced together, and by. virtue of the temperature changes are 'caused to adhere or coalescev into a unitary block with the grain of-the block extending` obliquely from top to bottom. ln this manner the superposed sheets of Celluloid and foil are pressed into slightly overlapping relation and at the same time present the edge grain of the composite mass to either horizontal. or vertical lane cuts. This produces the shell effect an the variegated colors which are so essential to the v simulation of abalone and other shell strucse tures.

rllhe superposed sheets of Celluloid 21 and foil 22 arranged diagonally in the mold or press .26 are subjected to approximately a five hours heat under pressure, instead of a three hours heat such as is common in the handling and molding of celluloid masses. This additional or prolonged heat is also found essential to effect the desired cohesion of the Celluloid and foil. The result of this treatmentis that a composite cake or block .30, shown in Fig. 7, is produced which, as above described., has a block or diagonal drain.

The matter of block 30 is then subjected 95 to a sheeter or cutter, and divided into nal' sheets of ten one-thousandths ofaan inch in thickness, as indicated at 31 in Fig. 7, and each sheet 31 presents the edge grain of the l composition to its opposite faces-to impart the necessary shell effect.' The sheets are then individually suspended in a dry room-iv for approximately twenty-fourlhours. Each sheet is then coated with a suitablecement as indicated inFig. 8 at 32, the cement being 105 of any suitable material or composition,'such as amyl acetate or acetone, or some other solvent; A surface transparent sheet 33 is then placed 'over the coating 32, and the between. are placed in a suitable press and subjected to pressure so that they will stick fast together. The composite sheets are removed from the press and are then seasheets 31 and 33 with the coating 32 there- 1104v soned for another twenty-four hours to re- 1'15.

move the softening effect which the cement produces, and are finally replaced in the press between two nickel plates, and are given afinal pressure under heat t'o produce the desired polish or finish to the uct.

The above described process efectsjthe commercial practical adhesioubetween thefcelluloid and the foil and this is chiefly effected by rolling the initial celluloid sheets softer than is usual, cutting the sheets to a Width of teh one-thousandths of an inch. andvaporizing the excess solvent therefrom and laying in the relatively thin sheets of' foil. Further, the sheeting of the molded e.

prod- -120 j celluloid and foil sheets to a thickne'vsss of ten one-thousandths of an inch. and laying the same up alternately with two supporting sheets of transparent Celluloid cut to twentyone-thousandths, giving a total tof three heats for finishing the product. rll`his treatment produces a perfectweld with the use of tin foil and a relatively cheap and economical material which may be readily handled in various subsequent uses of making pearl and other shell designs in combination with celluloid.

lt is apparent that the various steps ot the method may be substituted. modified. and even some of the steps may be omitted to produce various shell effects. and to meet conditions of manufacture and use of the product without departing from the spirit of this invention.

`What is claimed is:

l. At compound celluloid product compris- \iug a plurality of superposed Celluloid and foil particles Compressed into over-lapping relation. and a surface layer of transparent material pressed into intimate Contact with one side of the over-lapping particles. sub stantially as described.

:2. A compound celluloid product compris ing a transparent surface sheet. and orer-` lapping layers of foil and transparent material pressed to the under side of said sheet `for exposing the edges of the over-lapping material through the transparent sheet. substantially as described.

3. A Compound celluloid product comprising a transparent surface sheet. and a plurality of alternately arranged over-lapping sections of Celluloid and foil pressed to the under side of said sheet. the layers of celluloid having a pigmenttherein to present colors to the transparent sheet. substantially as described.

l. .5t Compound Celluloid product comprising a surface sheet. and inclined over-lapping layers secured against the under side of the sheet and ultimately composed of celluloid and foil compressed into a homogeneous mass with the surface sheet. substantially as described.

5. compoundcelluloid product comprising superposed layers of homogeneous Celluloid and foil cut transverselyY to expose theedge grain of the product. substantially as described.

6. compound celluloid product comprising strips of Celluloid and toil arranged alternately and compressed into over-lapping relation to form a homogeneous sheet. substantially as described.

T. A compound Celluloid product comprising superposed layers of celluloid and foil compressed into over-lapping relation to vprovide a homogeneous sheet. the celluloid particles having a pigment worked into the surfaces thereoi to present variegated Colorin eects in the completed sheet. substantia ly as described.

8. Thatl method of making a combined celluloid product. which consists in treating surfaces ot' celluloid sheets with a pignent. laying up said sheets in a press andsubjecting the same to pressure under temperature changes. sheeting the block formed in the press. interposing foil between the sheets. subjecting the superposed sheets ot' foil and celluloid to heat and pressure to form a homogeneous composition block. and sheeting the block to expose the edge grain thereoi. substantiallyv as described.

9. That method of making' a compound celluloid product. which consists in alternately superposing sheets of celluloid and foil into stack form. subjecting the stack to heat and pressure for homogenizing the sheets into integral block form. and sheeting the block to expose the edge grain thereof.-

10. rl`hat method of making a compound celluloid product. which consists in superposing alternate layers of celluloid and foil. securing said layers together into a homogeneous mass. and sheeting the mass to expose the edge grain thereof. substantially as described.

ll. The method of making a compound 4celluloid product. which comprises the alternate superposing ot celluloid and toil sheets. Causing said sheets to coalesce into a unitary block. sheeting the block to expose the grain thereof. and securing a surface layer of transparent material over the sheets cut- Jfrom the block.

l2. rthat method ot making a compound celluloid product` which consists in alternately superposing sheets of Celluloid and foil into aA homogeneous block. sheeting the block to expose the grain thereof inthe formed sheets. treating the surfaces of the sheets with a solvent. and applying a surface layer of transparent material to the treated surfaces of the sheets. substantially as described.

13. That nethod of making av compound Celluloid product. which Consists in Jforming a block of superposed Celluloid and foil sheets. cutting the block to form sheets With the edge grain exposed. treating the sheets with an adhesive 'solventand compressing a surface layer of celluloid against the treated surfaces of the sheets. substantially as described.

l-l. That method of making a Compound celluloid productwhich consists in molding a plurality of sheets of celluloid treated wit-h a. pigment into block form. sheeting said block into sheets of approximately ten onethousandth of an inch in thickness. interposing sheets of foil of approximately three one-thousandth of an inchin thickness between the celluloid sheets. molding the superposed celluloid and foil sheets into block form, sheeting'the second block across the grain thereof to expose the edve'portions of f the foil to the surface of the s eet for simuof the block, subjecting the interposed sheets ,to pressure under temperature changes to Aform a homogeneous composite foil and sliding v block, sheeting the composite block across the grain thereof to expose the edges ofthe foil to the surfaces of lthe sheets, and

securing the sheets Jformed of a transparent g surface coverin 16. That met od of making a compound Celluloid product, which consists in superposing sheets of Celluloid and foil,` subjecting said superposed sheets to pressure in the presence of temperature changes to form a block, and Withthe sheets inclined in overlapping relation to form a diagonal grain in the block, sheeting the block to form stratified sheets, and securing the stratified sheets of a transparent surface layer.

17. That method of making a compound Celluloid product, which consists in superposing sheets of celluloid and foil in inclined overlap ing relation, subjecting such superposed sieets to pressure and temperature Changes,` sheeting the Compressed block to form stratified sheets, treating the surfaces of the stratified sheets with an adhesive solvent, pressing a transparent surface sheet to the solvent for securing the surface sheet to the stratified sheet, seasoning the superposed sheets, and projecting the seasoned superposed Sheets to pressure between smooth plates for polishing the final product.

18. That method of making a compound Celluloid product, Which comprises compressing superposed Celluloid and foil sheets into block form under temperature Changes, and With the sheets in inclined overlapping relation to impart a diagonal grain in the` formed block, sheeting the block to form stratified sheets, seasoning the stratified sheets, applying a surface Coating oi' adhe sive solvent to the stratified sheets, applying a transparent surface sheet tothe adhesive coating, compressing the superposed sheets under heat to Cause the same to adhere, pressing the Composite structure between highly polished plates to impart a smooth surface finish to opposite sides of the product.

CHARLES sonneries. .ln presence of- WILLIAM Jos. KoRBoNrTs. 

